A Madison Twp. man who was cleared of a theft charge can proceed with a lawsuit he filed against a Lackawanna County detective and former assistant district attorney, a federal judge ruled.
(read more)

With a potential strike looming less than one month away and both sides expressing desire to avoid that outcome, representatives from the Abington Heights School District and the Abington Heights Education Association
(read more)

OLYPHANT — Wallenpaupack girls soccer coach Alicia Sodano committed to it six months ago, but even then, the former University of Scranton star didn’t know if the timing was right for a Media Day for the Lackawanna League.
(read more)

Friends of Lackawanna on Tuesday celebrated Throop Borough Council’s decision to oppose Keystone Sanitary Landfill’s nearly 45-year expansion plan, while landfill officials didn’t expect it to make a major impact on the state’s review of the proposal.
(read more)

Article Tools

DUNMORE - The ramp from the entrance of the Central Scranton Expressway to Interstate 81 at Cedar Avenue will be closed this morning.

The state Department of Transportation will be closing the area for bridge beam inspections from 9 a.m. to noon.

Motorists are encouraged to use an alternate route.

Olyphant park to get field house

OLYPHANT - A borough park will receive a $200,000 update, which should be completed by the fall.

The borough council moved to contribute an additional $10,000 to its original $1,800 allocation at a meeting Tuesday. The remainder of the project to construct a new field house in Condella Park will be funded through a $100,000 grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, a $65,000 award in state gaming funds and private donors.

The building will house a food stand, public restrooms and storage and incorporate energy-efficient components like skylights and a rain garden that collects rain to water garden areas. Borough Manager C.J. Mustacchio said the borough's contribution "wasn't bad" when considering the total price, noting that the building and pavilion were not just for sports teams.

"It's open to the borough," he said.

Blood donors to be rewarded

SCRANTON - People who donate blood to the American Red Cross through Feb. 28 will be entered to win a warm getaway to South Carolina thanks to a partnership with Sundance Vacations.

All donors at participating locations in Pennsylvania enter to win a raffle online or by phone to win the vacation along with a $500 gift card to use toward travel expenses.

Individuals who are 17 years old, meet weight and height requirements - 110 pounds or more, depending on their height - and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood and are asked to bring a Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when donating.

Longtime arts champion dies

WILKES-BARRE - A man who founded a local university's theater arts program and helped begin an arts festival in downtown Wilkes-Barre died Monday.

Al Groh, 92, was a longtime champion of the arts and culture of the Wilkes-Barre community. He founded the Wilkes University Theater Arts program, spearheaded the creation of the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center for the Performing Arts, self-published several books of poetry and co-founded the Fine Arts Fiesta, an annual arts festival on Public Square.

Mr. Groh's nephew, Chris Miller, said his uncle found his work in the arts a way to dedicate his life to peace after returning from World War II.

Marcey Zwiebel, a spokeswoman for PNC, said the error affected "a small number" of payments and was "quickly rectified." The bank, she said, would work with "individuals on a case-by-case basis" to refund penalties and other charges associated with cashing a bounced check.

The payments were part of a $17.75 million civil settlement approved in December between developer Robert K. Mericle and more than 1,000 former juvenile offenders who claim their rights were violated in the kids-for-cash scheme.

Mr. Mericle has admitted to paying more than $2 million to former Luzerne County judges Michael T. Conahan and Mark A. Ciavarella Jr., who closed a county-owned juvenile detention center and placed juveniles in two for-profit centers built by Mr. Mericle's construction firm.

N.Y. shooting may have local ties

WILKES-BARRE - Wilkes-Barre detectives are working with New York City police to determine whether a Jan. 23 shooting at a Queens funeral parlor is connected to a double homicide days earlier on Scott Street in Wilkes-Barre.

The shooting in New York erupted during the wake services for Leroy Smith, 42, one of two men fatally shot outside a Wilkes-Barre bar on Jan. 17.

Wilkes-Barre Detective Brent Sevison confirmed they have been in contact with New York City police but would not say if authorities have established a link between the two cases.

WILKES-BARRE - The latest salvo in the dispute about centralizing the collection of Luzerne County property taxes is a proposal to cut salaries for incoming division directors.

Councilman Rick Morelli said Tuesday council members "who support getting rid" of services from 69 elected municipal tax collectors "hide behind an argument of fiscal responsibility" and are not consistent. So on Tuesday, Mr. Morelli said he will propose reducing the pay of incoming division directors by 25 percent to save $166,250 a year.

Maximum annual salaries for the jobs range from $75,000 to $90,000. Councilman Jim Bobeck questioned whether council could reopen the budget to reduce funding for salaries.

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.